Tech

Soon you will manipulate BB-8 using the Force

LAS VEGAS — Everyone knows that BB-8 stole the show in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. But the tiny doppelganger toy from Sphero is no slouch in the real world, either. BB-8 by Sphero sold out last fall, and has been entertaining kids and adults for months — especially since Christmas.

But what's the the one thing this cute rotund droid is missing? The Force. That changes this fall, when Sphero ships the new Force Band controler.

Introduced at CES, The Force Band for BB-8 by Sphero is a wrist-wearable device that lets you put away your iPhone. Now you can have precise gesture control over the adorable monocular soccer ball of a droid.

Sphero's new Force Band for BB-8 by Sphero

Image: Mashable, Lance Ulanoff

I got a chance to try out a prototype — and even in this early stage, it worked surprisingly well. One reason: the Inertial Measurement Unit found inside the BB-8 by Sphero is replicated inside the Force Band.

Unlike the iPhone control, which is basically like using a joystick, this bit of technology creates a richer connection between you and the droid. It's as if the Force were actually flowing between you and BB-8.

You connect the band to Sphero much in the same way you do with the phone app — by placing the band close to the robot. After a little calibration to make sure the robot is facing the right way, it's ready to go.

While this is not the final design for the Sphero Force Band, we did love the little Star Wars logo on the back.

Image: Mashable, Lance Ulanoff

The Sphero team strapped the white wristband on me and I immediately started using my hand and body to control the BB-8 by Sphero at my feet. To make it go forward, I pushed my hand out in front of me. To make it come back, I turned my palm toward my face and pulled my hand in toward my body. If I turned my hand left or right, the robot's head moved in unison. When I dropped my hand to my side, BB-8 by Sphero stopped in its tracks and I felt a gentle buzz on my wrist.

I could make the robot follow me or turn around as I turned around my whole body. It was easy and fun.

When a Sphero engineer controlled BB-8, I noticed that he always had his hand open in a very Force-like gesture. I asked if the band recognized if your hand is open or closed.

"No," Sphero firmware engineer Jeff Wiencrot admitted, "but you do it because you feel so connected."

The new Battle Worn BB-8 by Sphero is on the left. The current model is on the right.

Image: Mashable, Lance Ulanoff

When The Force Band does ship later this year, it will come in a new version, the Battle-Worn BB-8. It's essentially the same droid, but with a new skin that more closely resembles the BB-8 in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. You'll still be able to buy Force Bands to use with your existing BB-8s by Sphero.

Pricing won’t be set until Sphero finalizes the design, materials and battery life. In the meantime, the company continues to work with Disney and Lucasfilm to finalize the design and packaging.

We suspect the Force will be with this gadget again next holiday season.

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